DU’s Henrik Borgström had two goals for Denver against BC. Photo: University of Denver
In their most complete game of the season to date, the #1-ranked Denver Pioneers (4-0-2) exploded for three-goal third period to rout #19th-ranked Boston College, 6-1, before nearly 5,000 fans at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass. The win over BC, when coupled with DU’s Friday 4-3 win over Boston University, sent a strong national message that the Pioneers are the team to beat this season.
“Looking at our team, that was the best performance of the year especially offensively,” said Denver coach Jim Montgomery after game. “We really showed skill tonight. We made a lot of plays and were really good at managing the puck…We executed great on everything…From our goaltender out, our communication was the best I’ve seen it all year as far as talking and puck support.”
Denver’s all-America candidates stepped up and led in a big way, as Finnish sensation Henrik Borgström had two goals, including the eventual game-winner. Troy Terry had three assists on the evening and Dylan Gambrell scored a goal and added a pair of assists to pace the Pioneer attack, joining the elite 100-point club for DU career scoring. DU defenseman Blake Hillman also potted his first two goals of the season to help the Pioneers, and Tyson McLellan scored his first of the season for the other Pioneer marker on a feed from Gambrell.
“Denver has dynamic players,” said Boston College coach Jerry York. “They may be better [this year] than they were last year.”
Denver had jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first two periods, and looked to cruise to victory, but BC clawed it’s way back into the game with a lone power play goal coming on a tip by Christopher Brown 1:45 into the third period to cut the DU lead to two goals. But the Pioneers responded with three unanswered goals in the third to blow the game open and complete the Boston sweep.
The Pioneers travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan next weekend to open NCHC play against Western Michigan.
5000 fans? Looked on TV like there were 1500. And how did BC, a perennially reloading team, get to be so bad? DU looks great, so sign of motivation problems so far.
5000 fans? Looked on TV like there were 1500. And how did BC, a perennially reloading team, get to be so bad? DU looks great, so sign of motivation problems so far.
No way there were c,ose to 5,000, probably not even 4,000. I was there and except for a student section every other section had empty seats. The upper level behind DU’s bench was almost empty.
I was at BU Friday and that arena wasn’teven full.
The official box score said 4,788 people were in attendance – that’s where I got the attendance figure in the story. Perhaps BC subscribes to the same attendance policy as DU does – show the tickets distributed number in the box score, not the turnstile number.
Both BC and BU had less than 5,000 in the house for DU, reflecting the attendance issues both schools are having in an oversaturated sports market with many things to do (sound familiar?)
Anyway, BC is the youngest team in the country (no seniors, like CC) and they will be pretty good by the end of the season. Glad we played them now as they struggle with youth.
By the way, hockey seating capacity at BC’s Contre Forum/Kelly Rink is 7,884 and at BU’s Agganis Area is 6,150 for hockey. DU’s Magness Arena capacity is 6,026 for hockey.
No way there were c,ose to 5,000, probably not even 4,000. I was there and except for a student section every other section had empty seats. The upper level behind DU’s bench was almost empty.
I was at BU Friday and that arena wasn’teven full.
The official box score said 4,788 people were in attendance – that’s where I got the attendance figure in the story. Perhaps BC subscribes to the same attendance policy as DU does – show the tickets distributed number in the box score, not the turnstile number.
Both BC and BU had less than 5,000 in the house for DU, reflecting the attendance issues both schools are having in an oversaturated sports market with many things to do (sound familiar?)
Anyway, BC is the youngest team in the country (no seniors, like CC) and they will be pretty good by the end of the season. Glad we played them now as they struggle with youth.
By the way, hockey seating capacity at BC’s Contre Forum/Kelly Rink is 7,884 and at BU’s Agganis Area is 6,150 for hockey. DU’s Magness Arena capacity is 6,026 for hockey.